Polishing-machine.



' 0.*W. BEAM.` POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 9, i911.

1,037,85 1 Patented sept. 10, 1912.

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Be it known that I, Cmfrmss W. BEAM,

residing at Rochester; in :the county ot 'Beaver and VState of EPen'nsy-lvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or'discovered certain 'new and useful Improve-j ments in Polishing-Machinescf which improvements the followingv -is a specication.

In grindin and polish-ing'durfaces of suchE articles as g ass lenses, the surface having already been` brought to `the -aipproxima-te contour desired, the blank to be operated upon issuitably secured to a support, which may or mayl not be movable, and a suitable block is caused to move over the surfaceof the blank. During the progress ofthe grinding and polishing process, abrasion or attrition material ofproper grade or degree of fineness is caused to come between the adjacent surfaces of the blank and block. The attrition material is, in glass polishing, mingled with water toform a soft paste or slurry. y

My invention has to do with a machine adapted primarily for polishing ordinary lens surfaces, Awhether plane or curved.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of my specification, Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation, and partly in ver.-

tical section, of a machine embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 1s a view 1n vertical section and on like-scale of an alternate part for the machine of Fig. 1.

Like .numerals are used to designate corresponding parts in the two figures.

My invention, although applicable to many forms'of polishing and grinding machines, is illustrated. in a lens polishing machine.

As shown in Fi 1, a rotatable .shaft 1 is `arranged preferab y in vert-ical position and is provided aty its lower end with a crank 2 (2a), which crank extends into the socket- 3 (3a) of the buffer et (4a). The free end of the crank arm is eccentric .with relation to the axis of rotat-ion of the shaft 1. The blank to be'polished is mounted within a receptacle 5, arranged beneath the lens end ofthe shaft 1 and means are provided for securing the blank in position within the receptacle 5, concentrically beneath shaft'l, and suitably spaced to permit movement of the buffer 4 (4a) upon and in Contact Wit-h 'the surfa'ceto 'be'I polished. The blank;,may conveniently' 'be secured by providing a suitable seat for it in the bo-ttom of receptacle 5 and reducing the air ir'iressurev in the space 'beneath the blank when seated, as by a suction pipe 6. To `provicle a tight joint, a soft gasket 7 (73)' of rubber or other material may form the seat for the blank.

'It will 'be well understood by those skilled inthe artthat, When'such a polishing machine is used,- th'e rotationof the shaft 1 will effect a double rotation of the buffer 4 (4a). In `the first place the buffer, being propelled by the tip of the crank 2 (2a), will revolve in a circular orbit beneath shaft 1 and upon the surface of the blank, and in the second place, as vthe buffer revolves, owing to a difference in friction between buffer andblank at different points in the area of contact, the buffer will also rotate upon its own axis.

On comparing Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen .how mymachine may be adapted for polishing either plane or curved surfaces. In Fig. 1 the tip of the crank'extends in a directlon angular to theaxis of rotation and y in Fig. 2 the tip of the crank is parallel to the axis of rotation, and in each case thetip of the crank extends in a direction perpendicular to t-he surface to be polished. This is the essential feature. course in each case suitably shaped for the particular surface to be polished.

The receptacle 5. contains the paste or slurry of rouge or other attrition material. The surface to be polished will preferably not be immersed in this slurry, but the surface of the slurry will be at a level lower than the surface to be polished. Means may be provided for automatically feeding the slurry to the surface when in process of polishing, such mea-ns may consist of a wick 8 attached to the edge of buffer 4 and alternately as the buffer moves dipping into .the slurry and smearing the surface under treatment.

The buii'er is of s Any suitablevv'mean's may be empli'fiye'd; for i rotating 'the shaft' 1. As shown in 1,

v the shaft may be mounted in bearing 9. and p may be rotated by worm gear 10, 11,T rom a shaft 12. Above the worm member'll, a clutch 13 may be provided, that shaft 1 may be shifted to inoperative position when desired and remain stationaryV while shaft 12 continues to turn. By so shiftingoshaft l.

and with it crank 2, ready access may be had to receptacle 5.

The drayvings show a B in Fig. 2, mounted for polishing. A uantity 'of slurry C ills the spaceprovide for it Within the receptacle but ata lower level i. than the surface to be polished. As the buf- "which, is under polishingr operation. Thus fthe polishing progresses mechanically and l. In" a polishing machine, Etionof a Islurry receptacle, means for'securing'a blank to be polished within said recepthe combinatacle, a buer movable upon thesurface to be polished, and means carried by said butbialik, A in Fig. 1,

fer for transferring the slurry from the receptacle to the surface of the blank to be polished, substantially as described.

`2. In a polishing machine, the combination of a receptacle, means for securing a blank to bepolished Within said receptacle, the surface-of the blank which is to be polished extending in a general horizontal position and extendin at a level-'above a surrounding trough-like space wherein slurry may be held, a'buffer movable'upon the surface to be polished, a Wick depending from the edge of said buffer, and means for moving said buier upon the-surface of a blank when in position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. y

CHAS. 'W. BEAM.

Witnesses:

' LEMAN W. DOLBY, .-I-IERBERT AILES. 

